Select the option that expresses the given sentence in reported speech.
"We will have a thorough search before opening the room,” the inspector told his subordinates
- AThe inspector told his subordinates that they would be having a thorough search before opening the room.
- BThe inspector told his subordinates that they can have a thorough search before opening the room.
- CThe inspector told his subordinates that they will had a thorough search before opening the room.
- DThe inspector told his subordinates that they would have a thorough search before opening the room.
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Rules for converting Direct to Indirect speech:
The reporting verb "told his subordinates" remains "told his subordinates".
The conjunction "that" connects the reported clause.
The pronoun "We" changes to "they" to refer to the inspector and his subordinates.
The modal verb "will" changes to "would" because the reporting verb is in the past tense.
The rest of the verb phrase remains "have a thorough search...".
This matches perfectly with Option D: "The inspector told his subordinates that they would have a thorough search before opening the room."
The reporting verb "told his subordinates" remains "told his subordinates".
The conjunction "that" connects the reported clause.
The pronoun "We" changes to "they" to refer to the inspector and his subordinates.
The modal verb "will" changes to "would" because the reporting verb is in the past tense.
The rest of the verb phrase remains "have a thorough search...".
This matches perfectly with Option D: "The inspector told his subordinates that they would have a thorough search before opening the room."